Migraines & headaches decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases, lack of sufficient reasons and bases for VA's duty to assist, and failure to address whether a new examination should be provided.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches due to an undiagnosed illness, as well as his fibromyalgia claim with a 20% rating effective March 1, 2002, were both granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection for heart disorder, vaginal intraepithelial neoplasm, arthritis due to anthrax vaccination, migraine headaches and chronic disability causing swollen lymph glands, swollen gums and sores in mouth. The decision is final as it pertained to a preexisting condition that was not aggravated by service.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the Veteran's hemangioperiocytoma of the brain with complications was incurred during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a headache disorder that is etiologically related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her active duty service.,Service connection was denied for headaches (migraine), as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to her service-connected depression, and she is granted service connection for a headache disorder. The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including bipolar disorder), antisocial personality disorder, a back disability, and headaches. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service stressors or a link between any current disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to comply with the Court's June 2004 decision, which found that VA had failed to provide proper notice. Additional development is needed for compliance with VA's duty to assist and notify.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for joint pain and numbness of the hands and arms, including bilateral cubital/carpal syndrome, and headaches, including migraine and cluster headaches. The evidence submitted by the Veteran indicates that his current conditions may be related to in-service exposure to sarin and cyclosarin gas during the Gulf War.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches, hypertension as secondary to migraine headaches, and sinus disorder as secondary to migraine headaches due to the lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches are characterized by constant headache pain and light sensitivity, with exacerbations causing periods of incapacity approximately two to three times per month. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the entire period of this appeal.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not manifested by very frequent, completely prostrating, and prolonged attacks that are productive of severe economic inadaptability. Therefore, the claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected, resolving doubt in her favor.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches, back pain, and gastritis were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, claimed as secondary to a lumbosacral strain with injury to L1 and L5 and degenerative changes, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right ankle disability, as well as her claim to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for migraine headaches with dizziness. The rating assigned for her right ankle disability was maintained at 30 percent. Her thalassemia and anemia were rated compensably.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his headaches and gastritis, as well as whether he has any history of diarrhea. The claim will also be considered on both a schedular and extra-schedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous condition with headaches, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.